Act Now for the Adoption Tax Credit — Contact Your Senator by July 19th!

Since its inception, the federal adoption tax credit has played an important role in helping children find forever homes by offsetting some of the costs associated with adoption. This credit not only benefits individuals who adopt domestically, but internationally as well.

According to the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group, on June 27, Senators Baucus and Hatch circulated a Dear Colleague letter to Members of the United States Senate asking them for their participation in tax reform. Members were informed that it is the Committee’s preference that the process start with a blank slate—eliminate all tax expenditures, both corporate and individual provisions. They were also told that to be re-included in the tax code a provision or proposal had to:

help grow the economy,

make the tax code fairer, or

effectively promote other important policy objectives.

In response to this, Senators are now preparing letters that include their priorities for tax reform. These letters are due to the Finance Committee by July 26. In order for your Senators to be able to incorporate your ask into their letters, we need you to reach out to them by July 19. The Adoption Tax Credit Working Executive Committee has prepared and distributed a letter to Members of Congress and asked them to include the adoption tax credit on their list of priority measures, using the following language:

“Adoption Tax Credit: Since its inception, this long-standing, bipartisan supported credit has played an important role in helping over a million children find their forever families through adoption. Furthermore, there is clear evidence that the adoption tax credit, when fully implemented, achieves all three of the Senate Finance Committee’s outlined tax reform goals. Tens of thousands of dollars are saved every time a child is adopted rather than placed in long-term foster care. Additionally, a permanent and refundable tax credit enables individuals at all income levels to consider adoption, creating more opportunities for children to secure permanent, loving families. Finally, research consistently shows that adopted children fair better than those without permanent families on adjustment measures, developmental outcomes, and self-support capabilities in young adulthood.”

We would ask that you take a minute to contact your senator today. Call or write a letter in support of the federal adoption tax credit expansion. Ask your senator to please include the adoption tax credits as one of their tax priorities. For a sample letter template, click here.